August's Sincerity

The August birth flower is the gladiolus which means sincerity and symbolizes strength of character. Love at first sight is what the hidden message of this flower was during the Victorian era.

The longest days of the year is passed, but the hot days remain. You may have noticed the birds are already gathering, purhaps planning thier flight south for the winter. The insects are noisier and more numerous than in any other month. I can remember my greatgran saying 'if the first week in August was hot and humid, it will be a long, white winter' - oh I hope not.


PLAYING WITH BLOCKS

My Fat Quarter tub was over flowing so YES I broke down and joined Amanda Jean's 36-patch block quilt along over at Crazy Mom Quilts. Very quick blocks and you certainly could us a stash busting.

The next paper pieced block for Regina Grewes' Garden Fun BOM. I think I will add a 'terry' towel and looking for a beach ball button.

A peek at part of the process of those special Keepsake Quilting 1.5" squares. Rows of strips with those precious squares - pressed and ready for the next step. I'm using 'cut-offs' of muslin from a quilt backing. Extra wide muslin, so those strips are 110" long.



SQUARED UP

Here are all my blocks from the previous post - layed out. **TIP - photo your layout and then later review to catch any mistakes OR to use if you have them get re-arranged by a child or furry of they flutter off your design wall. I opened a window to catch a breeze and had to re-set them.

I took my row as a stack to my machine to piece together. The seams are going to be pressed the same direction - but if you pressed to set your seams and then pressed flat - they should be flat enough to handle. TIP - shorten your stitch length to help in flattening seams that press this way.

I joined two rows at a time - mark your top left corner with a pin so you always have your starting point. I like to join half and half a quilt and then join the halves together. There is less weight and drag on your machine (and you) if you finish up your quilt top this way.

Here is my top. Remember these are odd size blocks - not your normal 'square' so you will need more blocks across than down. I used 10 blocks across and 9 blocks down - measures 42" x 56". I will add a 2.5" white border - to break up that busy pattern. And a final border using the 8 jelly roll strips I have leftover. There are some blocks left and I will use them to piece the back.



HAND QUILTING

I am hand quilting Raggedy Friends from the Painted Quilt. I hope I can keep on schedule because my Queen just loves to nap on this one. My lint brush is doing double duty to keep the black clean. I'm using 3-strands of DMC floss and the primative stitch - a third of it is finished. Then ALL those red buttons I have been collecting get added!


NEW PROJECTS

One of my dear followers - Shez of Enjoying Life sent me information about a new Packet Exchange. All information is on her blog - go visit.

Melissa at Happy Quilting is going to be hosting a new "Stars" quilt along. Go visit for information.

Katie Q of Salt Marsh Path sent me information on "Smack Down" - go take a visit for information on a charity quilt event. This could also be used for the 100 Quilts for Kids.

If you have never heard of this site - Tipnut is a wealth of information and projects - Christmas is coming and good time to start. Sign up for their newsletter and get notification when their lists get updated.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Fairest of the months!
Ripe summer's queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen
Sweet August doth appear."
- R. Combe Miller

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon